(I am a transman; however, I am not on testosterone when this story takes place. Since I work in a busy, well-known fast food place and look fairly androgynous, I am used to being asked whether I am “a boy or a girl” constantly. I am working the drive-thru. A car arrives. I take their order over the headphone and ask them to move up to the next window to pay. I am sitting in said window. The car pulls up, and inside are three dudes in their 20s. They see me and start laughing immediately.)

(I know what they want to ask, but don’t want to give them the satisfaction of getting around asking the question.)

Me: “Yes, go ahead.”

Customer #1: “Uh, no, never mind.”

Me: “Oh, please, go ahead. I want to give you the best service possible.”

Customer #2: “Nope, never mind. We’re leaving.”

Customer #3: “What about the food?”

(They sped off without paying and without their food. A coworker later told me that they came back and told him that they were betting on my gender and that whoever lost had to pay for the food. My coworker told them to f*** off.)

I work in the customer support for an online computer game. We had one couple that were paying large amounts of money regularly for in-game benefits. They constantly reported problems and wanted free stuff for being ‘such good customers’. One day the account of the husband was banned, because he had been caught using multiple accounts, which is not allowed.

Customer: Unlock my accounts right now!!!

Me: I’m sorry Sir, but multiple accounts are against our regulations.

Customer: Well, I never agreed to your rules, I never even read them!

Me: Sir, you accept them when you sign up by checking that you have read and understood them.

Customer: But I did not read them!!

This went back and forth several times, then he requested that all his accounts be deleted.

Customer: Delete both of our accounts and give us back all the money we paid!

Me: Sorry, but we cannot give you back any money, as you have already spent it on items in the game.

Customer: This is ridiculous. First you sent the police into our house and now this!

Me: Uh.. we did not send the police to you, sir.

Customer: Yes you did, because you wanted to steal our money. Just delete our accounts now!!

The accounts are deleted, and that’s it for a while. Until, about 6 months later…

(My father just recently came out as a trans woman to my sister and me. We’re in our twenties and, though we are both cis women, occasionally we like to wear comfortable clothes that are branded as masculine. My father opens up her closet and proudly shows us all the hidden skirts, blouses, pumps, and handbags, while also allowing us to take anything we want from her masculine clothing. It’s worth noting that her current style, contrary to the clothes she wore while closeted, is very cheerful and bright.)

Father: “Now you can finally take all my shirts as pyjamas, [Sister]!”

Sister: *grabs huge stacks of clothing*

Father: “You have to be quick, [My Name], or she will take everything.”

Me: “Hmm, have you got any flannel shirts?”

Father: “Did you ever see me wearing flannel shirts?”

(I take my time looking at her blouse, flowers all over it, and bright pink skirt.)